Baby death sparks maternity review

The death of a baby delivered by an independent midwife has sparked a review of Wellington's maternity services.

Health Minister David Cunliffe announced the review last night after Capital and Coast District Health Board was unable to fully investigate the actions of the midwife because it was not the midwife's employer.

Mr Cunliffe would not give any details about the incident, except to say that it was recent and involved a midwife who was not employed by a hospital.

The review would not focus on the case itself but on the relationship between Capital and Coast and its maternity providers, he said.

"There needs to be clarity around the roles and responsibilities of those involved in maternity services in order to ensure women and their children are receiving the best possible care."

Many midwives operate independently, calling on hospital staff to help only when things go wrong.

Mr Cunliffe's announcement comes three years after Wellington coroner Garry Evans called for a review into maternity services and better supervision of new midwives after two Wellington babies died following breech births at home.

Mr Evans criticised the midwives in both cases and said he believed there was a deeper, systemic problem in maternity care.

He would not comment on the latest death but confirmed that it had been referred to him and was being investigated.

A Capital and Coast spokesman said most deliveries in New Zealand involved lead maternity carers who were not employed by health boards.

Mr Cunliffe said the review would be conducted by a panel of expert advisers, "sponsored" by David Galler, the Health Ministry's principal medical adviser. He expected it to be completed within six weeks.

He has also asked the district health board to report quickly on the incident.

The review would not duplicate the investigations being carried out by the board or by Mr Evans - or potentially by the Health and Disability Commissioner, the Midwifery Council and ACC, agencies that might also investigate, he said.

It could have an effect on wider work examining the future of maternity services nationally.

- © Fairfax NZ News